Automatic steering-gear.



J. P. IJUIVDGRIEIN.

AUTOMATIC STEERING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1913.

1,107,973. Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. Q

IHE NORRIS FETEN 60.. FHC'TO-IJTHCL. WASHINGTON, u c.

J. P. LUNDGREN. AUTOMATIC STEERING GEA'R.

zr/f/ 7/// I Patented Aug. 18, 1914,

2 SHEETSSHEET 2 APPLIGATION FILED FEB. 18, 1913.

WITNESSES m I N flwylw THE NORRIS PETERS C04. PHOTGLITHO" W SHINGTON. 04 C.

JOHN PETER LUNDG-RE-N, OF M INOT, NORTH DAKOTA.

AUTOMATIC STEERING-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

Application filed February 18, 1913. Serial No. 749,193.

To all whom may concern Be it known that I, JOHN PETER LUND- GREN, a citizen of the United States, residing atMinot, in the county of Ward and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Steering-Gears, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. I a

This invention relates to a steeringdevice and has for its object the production of a simple and efiicient steering mechanism which may be attached to a traction or other engine for the purpose of keeping the same in correct alinement with the furrowed or plowed ground. 1

Another object of this invention is the production of a simple and eflicient means which may be attached to the steering wheels of an engine so as to keep the same at all times in correct alinement with the furrow and at the same time allow the steering wheels to be operated in the desired manner to steer the engine.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed. I

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the steering apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section through the steering disk. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section through the steering disk supporting rod, showing the means for attaching the steering chains thereto. Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the guiding pulleys over which the steering ropes pass. Fig. 6 is a top plan View of the wheel illustrated in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the tension clamp for attaching the steering ropes to the wheel. 3

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that 1 designates the frame of the engine which is provided with the usual front steering wheels 2 mounted upon an axle 3. A beam 4 is supported in front of the axle upon supporting bolts 5 and a guiding disk supporting arm or bar 6 issecured to this beam 4 by having its rear end straddling the same as indicated at7. This arm 6 extends at an angle from the center of the beam 4 and has its forward end curved laterally to produce a laterally extending arm or finger 7. This linger 7 is provided with an enlarged journal portion 8 through which the supporting shaft 9 of the steering disk 10 passes. A collar 11 is placed upon each side of the enlarged head or journal 8 so as to limit the upward or downward movement of the shaft 9 within the ournal 8. The shaft 9 is provided with a laterally extending end 12 which end is provided with an enlarged collar 13. The guiding disk 10 is provided with a beveled face 14 and is also provided with a ournal box 15 which journal box fits over the end 12 of the shaft 9. This journal box 15 is provided with an aperture 16 at its inner end for facilitating the placing of a lubricant therein, and a clamping plate 17 is clamped upon the journal box 15 by means of bolts 18 whereby the clamping plate 17 will bejfirmly held upon the journal box 15. By carefully considering Fig. 3, it will be seen that the guiding disk 10 may be readily and conveniently removed from the shaft 9 when it is so desired by releasing the bolts 18 from the clamping disk 17.

A cable engaging pulley 19 is fixedly secured to the upper end of the shaft 9 and is provided with a cable receiving groove 20 through which passes the steering cable 21. This groove 20 is provided with a pair of alined apertures 22, one pair of apertures being formed upon the upper face of the pulley 19 and the other pair formed upon the lower face as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. This guiding or steering cable 21 is passed around in the groove 20 and is looped to form a knot in the apertures 22 formed inthe pulley 19 and thereby lock the cable 21 in firm engagement with the pulley 19 and prevent the same from slipping. It will be seen that as the direction of travel of the disk 10 is changed, the shaft 9 will be swung so as to have the vertical portion thereof rotate, thereby rotating the pulley 19 and causing the cable 21 to pass around the pulley as said pulley 19 rotates, thereby automatically turning the steering wheel 23.

An auxiliary pulley 24 is mounted upon the shaft 25 and this shaft 25 is fixedly se cured to the rod or shaft 6 by means of the securing plate 26. This securing plate 26 fits snugly over the rod or bar 6 as clearly illustratedin Fig. 4, and is secured thereto by means of bolts or screws 27. The shaft 25 is further braced by means of a bridging brace 28 which bridging brace straddles the pulley 24 and has its ends 29 secured to the bar or red 6 by means of screws 30. A chain engaging pulley 31 is interposed between the plate 26 and pulley 2a and over this chain engaging pulley 31 is adapted to pass the guiding chain 32. The chain engaging pulley 31 isprovided with link receiving pockets 33 formed around the periphery thereof so as to firmly grip the same and prevent the same from accidentally slipping-as the pulley 2st is rotated. the pulley 19, is provided with a plurality of apertures through which the guiding or steermg cable 34 passes. This guldmg on steering cable 3st passes around the pulley 2a in the same manner as described relative to the pulley 19 and the rear ends of the cable 3 1 are attached to the steering wheel 23 in any desired manner, such as for instance, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The chain 32 is connected to steering rods 35 which rods are connected to the beam at by means of eyes 36. One end of the rod 35 is connected by means of a turnbuckle 37, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and the other rod 35 is connected to the beam 4t by means of a yieldable spring 38 which spring 38 is mounted in a casing 39 for facilitating the free sliding movement thereof, the rear end of the rod 35 extending through the aperture 40 formed in the outer end of the casing 39. A nut 11 is threaded upon the rod 35 for the purpose of adjusting the tension of the spring 38. It will be seen by carefully considering Fig. 1 that the rod or bar 6 is formed hollow so as to make the structure as light as possible and yet produce" the desired results.

It will be seen that the present invention will produce an efficient device for constituting a regulator to keep the engine in the desired track, as for instance, if the engine were on the side of a hill where the tendency of the engine is to work either toward or away from the plowed land, the steering disk 10 will turn in such a direction as to hold the engine away from or close to the plowed land as is necessary or desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. In combination with a vehicle provided with a shaft and turning gear, a support projecting from the turning gear, a steering wheel carried by the support, means where by the steering movements of said wheel are communicated to said shaft, and means whereby said movements are communicated from the shaft to the support.

2. In combination with a vehicle provided with a steering device and turning gear, a support carried by the turning gear, a steering wheel carried by thesupport, cable connections between said wheel and the steering device and cable-connections between the steering device and the support.

3. In combination with a vehicleprovided The pulley 24, like outer portions of the support and the bar,

cable connections between the steering wheel and steering device, and cable connections between the support and the steering device.

5. In a device of the class described the combination with a vehicle provided with a steering axle, of a steering rod provided with a laterally extending end, a disk supporting shaft journaled in said end, said disk supporting shaft provided with a laterally extending end, a disk mounted thereon, a pulley carried by the upper end of said disk supporting shaft, a steering cable passing thereover and secured thereto, an auxiliary pulley secured to said steering rod, a steering chain passing around said pulley and capable of being swung, means for connecting said steering chain to the steering axle of a vehicle and a second cable cooperating with said pulley and cooperating with said first mentioned steering cable for turning said pulley as said pulley carried by said steering disk is turned whereby said vehicle may be steered.

6. In a device of the class described the combination with a vehicle, of a steering axle, a steering wheel, a steering rod, a steering disk, a shaft supporting said disk and extending vertically, a steering pulley secured to the upper end of said shaft, a steering cable secured to said pulley and said steering wheel, an auxiliary pulley supported upon said steering rod, means for holding the same in firm engagement with said steering rod, a second cable passing over said pulley, means for connecting said cable to said pulley, a chain pulley positioned below said. last mentioned pulley, a steering chain passing over said chain pulley, rods connected to said chain, a turn-buckle connecting one of said rods with said steering axle, and yieldable means connecting the other rod to 1 said steering axle.

7 In a device of the class described the combination with a vehicle, of a steering axle, a steering rod supported in front of said axle, a steering disk, a steering wheel, means for connecting said steering disk and wheel for turning said steering wheel as said steering disk is swung, an auxihary pulley mounted upon said steering rod, a steering cable secured to said steering wheel and over said auxiliary pulley, a chain pulley posi- In testimony whereof I hereunto afilx my tioned below said auxiliary pulley, a steersignature in presence of two witnesses. ing chain passing thereover, said steering JOHN PETER LUNDGREN. pulley provided with a plurality of link re- Witnesses:

5 ceiving sockets, and steering rods connected CHAS. D. KELSO,

to said steering axle. and chain. CHARLES G. LUNDGREN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eaclyby addressing the Commissioner otPatents,

Washington, D. 0." 

